Autonomous Music Performance Network

People need communication access that goes beyond fixed structures. This could include bandwidth access for education, healthcare, and communication needs. Existing networks require fixed infrastructure and is difficult to move, reconfigure, or deploy in order to respond to changing needs.

Our project team envisioned using drones to place software-defined radio nodes and enable these to be reconfigured based on needs. In contrast to existing systems that are in fixed locations, by using the drone capabilities the radio network nodes will be repositionable and able to respond to changing demands. This will enable access for online education, telehealth, and communication in places that are underserved and in need due to the COVID-19 crisis and other existing limitations.

It was exciting to be selected for the HoverGames Challenge and receive the challenge kit: Here is the view when the parts arrived!

The project is a pilot system that uses the hovergames drone kit to position and re-position a configurable communications network.

The audio set-up was built using jacktrip, an open communication system for real-time audio over a network. The important element is to keep the audio delays short, any more than 25ms begins to interfere with performance and synchronizing the music.

While preparing the project, interest in networked musical performance and ways to continue to play together are growing in need as well as innovation. A story was featured in July 2020 on NPR with the headline "Playing Music Together Online is Not as Simple as It Seems". (https://www.npr.org/2020/07/14/891091995/playing-music-together-online-is-not-as-simple-as-it-seems).

The jacktrip foundation has developed a version that is available for the Raspberry Pi. In this example, we have used two Raspberry Pi 4 B boards and the Jacktrip Virtual Studio to link an electric piano with voice headsets. (https://www.jacktrip.org/studio.html)

Drone, Assembled & Ready for Action:

Test Flight of the HG2 Drone:

This pilot example of the HoverGames drone and NavQ system combined with the reconfigurable radio networks will enable rapid response to establish and operate communication systems for crisis situations. In the future, this could be expanded for use in emergency response such as in natural disasters, and to aid in repair and recovery operations. For long-term crises such as the COVID-19 or any future examples, this could be of value to provide ongoing community and communications to help people stay connected.